
One of the most prolific sixth men in NBA history, electrifying guard Jamal Crawford has always been the league’s premier spark plug. Known for coming off the bench and putting up points in a hurry, Crawford was actually used sparingly less this year thanks to Tom Thibodeau’s starter-reliant rotations.
With his numbers down across the board in his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, ESPN’s Chris Haynes reports that Crawford will not pick up his $4.5 million option for next season. This means Crawford will hit the free agent market once the period begins on July 1st.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jamal Crawford will decline his 2018-19 player option to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, league sources told ESPN.
Crawford, one of the league’s elite reserves, will be opting out of a guaranteed salary of $4.5 million to test free agency.
With his career now nearing a conclusion, Jamal Crawford knows this may be his last opportunity to get paid in free agency. The slippery combo guard signed a two year deal with Minnesota last summer worth $9 million and could command similar figures on the marker this summer depending on how much teams think he has left to offer.
When involved and engaged, Crawford has proven to still be effective off the bench as a focal point. Though he’s now 38 years old, Crawford’s game isn’t based on athleticism which makes it much easier to play well into your thirty’s.
Instead, it’s his outside shooting and shot-creating ability for himself and others that still makes him effective. His notoriously dangerous handle allows him to get where he wants when he wants and can still put opposing defenses in a quandary.
Though he likely won’t be able to hold down as big a role off the bench as he used to, Crawford could still be an invaluable piece for a playoff team or title contender in need of some bench production.